The World Bank is strengthening its commitment to the economic transformation of Senegal with the approval of an additional $140 million in funding to improve road infrastructure in the main agricultural production basins in the north and center of the country.
Granted by the International Development Association (IDA) and complemented by a $2 million contribution from the Senegalese government, this new funding brings the total financing of the Agricultural Production Connectivity Project (PCZA) to $470.8 million, one of the key programs for modernizing rural infrastructure.
The objective is to open up agricultural areas, facilitate access to markets, and strengthen agri-food value chains. According to the World Bank, nearly 570,000 people will directly benefit from the project.
Since its launch, the PCZA has already allowed for the construction and rehabilitation of 414 kilometers of roads, improving mobility for over 350,000 residents. The new funding will be used to develop two strategic corridors connecting Koussanar to Koumpentoum and Tambacounda to Dianké Makha, identified as development axes for rural areas.
The program includes the construction of 171 kilometers of paved roads and 104 kilometers of laterite tracks, designed to incorporate climate resilience standards. It also involves the construction of agricultural processing platforms for women, storage spaces, rural markets, water points, as well as school and health facilities.
According to Djibrilla Issa, World Bank Division Director for Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and The Gambia, “When a road connects an agricultural basin to an urban market, it allows a producer to better market their harvest and communities to access more economic opportunities.”
Implemented by AGEROUTE under the supervision of the Ministry of Infrastructure, the project aligns with the priorities of Senegal Vision 2050 and the National Development Strategy 2025-2029. By improving mobility, agricultural competitiveness, and economic inclusion in territories, this investment aims to enhance the attractiveness of rural infrastructure and support the structural transformation of the Senegalese economy.
